The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-09-15
GossIPINo IN PUBLIC.
A Rude Proceeding Which Might be Called
the objectionable Social Sin.

the CnpafdOnaDle Social SID.
Do be careful about bringing your
private affairs into public. Il is aston
ishing how many women one meets on
the streets and in the cars who appear
to have no conception whatever of tho
privacy due their own or anybody
else's affairs. Upon meeting u friend
they enumerate every little thing that
has taken place while they were apart,
in loud voice, thereby attracting tho
attention of every passer-by. and if tho
friend is of a quiet, unassuming dis
position, making her particularly I'M
comfortable, for of all things a person
of this nature dislikes to attract atten-
ton on the street or in any public
place. She would much prefer that
they would not recognize her at all
than make her the object of curious
eyes. But they never give thought
to such thing. They think she must
want to know just how all the folks arc
or have been since seeing her,
and they proceed to let her know
every thing of interest that has tram
spired. She is honestly glad to SEQ
them. and would be very much inter-
ested in their conversation if at another
time and place, where they could have
social talk together, without being
the observed of all observers. She tries
to convey to them the necessity of
speaking low, by replying to all their
in lou, TO- .,fx- nian. br1t
this has not the least effect on them.
for they continue their questions and
narratives in rs loud voice as before.
She can hardly be blamed if she is
heartily glad when they bid her good
by. She could not, honestly. be any
thing else but glad at the departure of
such people.
Two of these noisy people enter a
car, and in little while the people
occupying seats for some distance
away, as well as those nearer, listen to
a conversation carried on in loud key
by the women, embracing the family
history of both, and good part of their
neighbors' history as well. Names arc
seldom omitted in conversations of this
kind, and any of the passengers near
can tell how Mrs. Browns children, of
such a town, are neglected, and Mrs.
Smith, of the same town, is such a mis-
cradle housekeeper. and in speaking of
themselves these women unconsciously
tell the most of the passengers the rea-
son they couldn't 90 to Mrs. Gray's
reception was because they hadn't any
thing fit to wear. The street CT cars is
no place for the discussion of family
affairs, but if they must be brought into
public, let it be in low-toned voice,
loud enough to be heard only by the
person interested. Few women like to
attract attention in public, yet many do
so unconsciously by their loud voices.
They have no idea that they areno-
ticed in this respect, for they would not
for the world think of airing their
home affairs, but it is habit that has
grown on them, and, like all habits,
they do not realize the annoyance it is
to Others, or they would in all proba-
bility correct it.
Another very common and disagreed
BILE habit, which is found more particu-
larly among young girls, is criticising
and commenting on the appearance
and dress of those around them. They
are fond of setting themselves up rs
authorities on dress. They are positive
they know just what colors go together.
and the woman who does not dress ac- ]
cOrding to their code. in their opinion, /
has no taste whatever. A woman !
passes them on the street or enters Il
car in which they are seated. She has
on color or style of garment that they
have not seen before. isn't that
horrid? don't like that, do you?" one
asks. mo, indeed. 1 call that poor
TASTE" replies the other. If the per-
son criticised hears the remarks she
feels any thing but comfortable, but
whether she hears them or not, TO u
person the remarks made
display more poor taste than any thing
else. If these girls were told this they
would be surprised that they of all
others should be accused of bad taste,
yet such is really the case, for any re-
fined person knows that it is exceeding
" bad taste to comment on either the
manner or dress of any person, in
public or private. The sooner such
girls dispense with this habit the better
it will be for themselves, for no per-
son can be attractive who INDUCES in
such an uncharitable occupation
poofo., R,,Ioog